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Chapter 51
“Night Walk (2)”
Three days passed quickly.
During that time, a handwritten letter from the Empress arrived, and news came that the book the Third Prince had been looking for had been found somewhere outside the Empire.
“Why couldn’t they find a book that’s so easy to locate until now? Is there some kind of conspiracy behind this?”
“There’s no conspiracy, Lowell. It’s just that it happened because the incompetent Count Blaze’s household took it upon themselves to look for it.”
“I see.”
This was the conversation the twins had upon hearing that the book had been found.
With the passing of these uneventful days, the promised day finally arrived.
“You’ve been going to bed quite early lately.”
“Maybe it’s because the seasons are changing. I feel a little tired.”
“That’s reasonable. Get some rest.”
For the past few days, Berenice had been roaming the back alleys of the capital, working hard to uncover the identity of ‘Bella.’
Perhaps pretending to be tired and going to bed early for three days straight was a way to avoid being noticed while sneaking out.
Berenice returned to her room, giving a gentle smile to her parents to assure them not to worry. She told Nadia that she wouldn’t need to check on her at night, then waited for the household noise to subside before changing clothes.
“Good thing I’m in pajamas. Otherwise, I’d have had to call Nadia to help me change.”
Muttering again that the one who made the corset certainly wasn’t a woman, Berenice carefully opened the window.
She had long memorized the guards’ patterns and schedules in the Marquess household.
Clinging to the wall to avoid being seen, Berenice ran and vaulted over the Marquess’s wall with a quick sprint.
“Perfect score, maybe?”
The sprint went smoothly, her vault over the wall was graceful, and most importantly, she made no sound.
Praising herself, she felt she was close to her prime form.
“The ending’s weak, so points off.”
“Y-Your Highness?”
Kaiden, dressed entirely in black like her, was leaning against the Marquess’s wall, looking at her.
“Why are you here?”
“Because we promised to visit the Nest together?”
“I don’t think we promised to move together.”
“It’s weird to have the same destination but move separately.”
Today, the meeting point with Kaiden was the “New Bird Entrance” of the Nest.
After the flower shop disappeared, a small bookstore had been built in its place.
Kaiden had already tried using it but said there was no risk of being discovered for now, so he left the ‘entrance’ fixed.
“The destination is the same, but the starting point is different. It’ll probably be more troublesome for you to move with me.”
“Isn’t it nice to have someone to talk to on the way?”
Was he suggesting exchanging information before going to the Nest? Or aligning their story in front of Bronwen?
‘Even if I meet Bronwen first, we’ll share information anyway. There’s no need to coordinate our story in front of her.’
…Could it be that he suspects she plans to meet Bronwen first and hide something?
Thinking that, Berenice subconsciously checked Kaiden’s reaction.
“Do you know how to ride a horse?”
“…I’m Wilthiera, Your Highness.”
Even lower nobles learned basic riding.
Moreover, Wilthiera is the Empire’s only Marquess’s household.
Would it make sense for the Marquess’s daughter not to know how to ride?
Berenice frowned slightly, unsure, glancing at him.
“I’ve heard some people struggle with riding, so I was just confirming.”
Why did he need that confirmation?
Once a thought takes a skewed turn, the following thoughts tend to follow.
Since Kaiden told her he was curious about her, she had strangely become more unsettled when interacting with him, Berenice thought, shaking her head.
She didn’t ask any other questions.
She had a feeling that trying to engage him further here would only increase her confusion, solving nothing.
Fortunately, she soon understood why it was necessary to check if she could ride a horse.
“Good to see you again, Milady.”
“Hello, Sir Gibson.”
Following Kaiden into the forest near the Marquess’s house, Berenice spotted Ben waiting with three horses.
‘Ah, so that’s why he asked if I could ride.’
He had prepared her horse in advance and only later realized he needed confirmation.
“Is Sir Gibson accompanying us as well?”
“Just to the main street.”
Ben hadn’t caught the intruder that day. The intruder had run too desperately, and Ben hadn’t fully concealed his identity.
He regretted it, though, and swore to deal with the culprit next time.
“Why only to the main street?”
“I wouldn’t want to disturb your date.”
“…Date?”
“Well, if a man and woman meet secretly at night for a walk, it counts as a date.”
“It’s not a date.”
“Ben, she says it’s not.”
“Ha ha ha. If that’s what Milady thinks, then it’s not a date.”
Berenice got on her horse, closing her lips firmly, deciding not to talk to the two men any further.
She quickly realized that talking to them would be of no help.
“You’ve said everything you needed to?”
“Yes, we agreed with His Highness that it’s not a date, Milady.”
“Thanks… I appreciate it.”
Berenice bowed sincerely to Ben.
Kaiden clicked his tongue, displeased, and lightly nudged his horse forward, starting to move first.
Following him, she rode quietly.
The night was dark, and the mountain trail they rode on was empty, making silence appropriate.
After some time riding,
“We’ve arrived.”
The group dismounted at the village entrance and surveyed the surroundings.
Fortunately, no one was in sight.
“I’ll go ahead, then.”
“Really?”
“The entrance and exit are different. We can’t wait here without knowing where you’ll come out.”
“Also, Ben stands out too much.”
“My muscles are impressive, though.”
Ben flexed his arm, showing off, as Kaiden clicked his tongue and moved first.
Standing still for a moment, Ben spoke to Berenice, who watched Kaiden’s back:
“This is someone who knows how to survive anywhere. Nothing will happen to him in the capital, but just in case, stay close to His Highness.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“I’m sorry that’s all I can say to someone who saved His Highness’s life.”
Berenice hurriedly thanked him again and followed Kaiden.
He had given her unusually warm glances earlier, likely because Ben had been impressed by Kaiden near their estate.
“Quite the long farewell.”
“I don’t know when I’ll see you again.”
“You’ll see me on the way back.”
“Eh? But you just said you’d leave…”
“That guy wouldn’t leave me behind.”
“Then…”
“He’ll probably hide somewhere and show up later. It might take a while, but he won’t go back and rest alone.”
It was clear she trusted her knight completely.
Were the Crown Prince and Bledin like this too?
Thinking that, Berenice stayed silent as Kaiden moved forward without a word.
“Have you found anything about Bella?”
Kaiden asked as they reached the bookstore hiding the Nest’s entrance.
She answered without hesitation:
“No, nothing.”
She had searched bars in the back alleys for anyone named ‘Bella,’ but gained nothing.
“Guess we have to trust the White Raven?”
Stopping in front of the old bookstore, Kaiden muttered.
Berenice nodded and opened the door, with Kaiden following.
Standing side by side, they flipped a silver coin together, releasing a white light that enveloped them.
And then…
“How’s it feel, enjoying a midnight date?”
Bronwen greeted them, looking somewhat sulky.
